Selective synthesis of organodiphosphite compounds

ABSTRACT

A process for the preparation of organodiphosphites of the formula (ORO)P(OZO)P(ORO) wherein R and Z are different substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/054,002, filed Jul. 29, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a process for the synthesis of organodiphosphites.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Organodiphosphites are known to be useful as is ligands for metal-complex catalysts which are useful in hydrocyanation reactions. Particularly useful organodiphosphites are those of the general structure ##STR1##

The synthesis of these organodiphosphites can be accomplished by reacting a mixture of two diols (HOZOH and HOROH) with phosphorous trichloride under conditions which allow resulting HCl to be distilled away, often at elevated temperature. This kind of synthesis can result in the production of a reaction product which also contains unwanted byproducts. These byproducts can include various organomonophosphites. These byproducts can also include unwanted organodiphosphites, including those of the formulae shown below: ##STR2##

Depending upon the relative amounts of the two diols in the diol mixture, the reaction product of the diol mixture and PCl₃ may contain the desired organodiphosphite in unacceptably low yields.

In general, laboratory approaches to selectively producing organodiphosphites involve carrying out the reaction in the presence of a base such as trialkylamine under extreme cold conditions (e.g. -78° C.). Although desired organodiphosphites can be produced, they can undergo molecular rearrangement in the presence of acid to yield unwanted byproducts. A combination of carrying out the reaction in the presence of a base and in extreme cold can effectively slow down rearrangement to allow for a selective synthesis of the desired organodiphosphites through sequential addition of the alcohols and diol.

However, extreme cold is impractical from a commercial viewpoint, and there have been attempts to carry out selective synthesis under more practical conditions. In WO96/22968, a multistep process for the synthesis of compounds of the type (ArO)₂ P(O--Z--O)P(OAr)₂ where Ar and Z are substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups is described in which all steps are carried out at 0° C. or above with selectivity of about 90% reported. The process involves the synthesis of intermediate phosphoramidite compounds (RO)₂ P--N(R')₂, which are then converted to phosphorchloridites, (RO)₂ PCl, by reacting the phosphoramidites with anhydrous HCl, and then reacting the phosphorchloridites with base and the organic diol, HO--Z--OH, to produce the desired organodiphosphite.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,113 discloses a room temperature process for the preparation of a phosphite having a formula (RO)₂ P(O--A--O)P(OR)₂ where A is biphenyl and R is 3,6-di-t-butyl-2-napthyl. The process involves reacting a solution of 4 molar equivalents of 3,6-di-t-butyl-2-naphthol (an ROH material) and 4 molar equivalents of triethylamine (a base) with 2 molar equivalents of PCl₃ by dropwise addition to produce a phosphorchloridite intermediate. This product is then reacted with one molar equivalent of 2,2'-biphenyldiol (an HOZOH) and 2 molar equivalents of triethylamine by dropwise addition.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,651 discloses a process for making certain symmetric organodiphosphites by reacting an organic diphenolic compound with phosphorous trichloride to form a phosphorochloridite intermediate and then reacting the intermediate with a diol.

The process of WO96/22968 produces acceptable products, but it is a relative high cost multistep process. The process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,113 is simple, but can result in low yields of certain organodiphosphites, depending on the nature of the ROH reactant.

It would be desirable to have a process for producing organodiphosphites in high yield, good selectivity and at a commercially desirable cost. These objectives are met by the process of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of organodiphosphites of the general formula (ORO)P(OZO)P(ORO) wherein R and Z are different substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups, which comprises:

(a) treating at a temperature between about -30° C. and 10° C. one molar equivalent of PCl₃ with about one molar equivalent of HO--R--OH;

(b) treating the solution of step (a) at between about -30° C. and 10° C. with at least two equivalents of an organic base to produce (ORO)PCl and a substantially insoluble salt formed from the organic base and HCl which is formed by the reaction of HO--R--OH and PCl₃ ; and

(c) reacting at a temperature of between about -30° C. and 10° C. the (ORO)PCl with about one half molar equivalent of HO--Z--OH, provided if less than three equivalents of the organic base are utilized in step (b), then a sufficient quantity of additional organic base is added to bring the total equivalents of organic base utilized in the process to at least three.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a simple process for the selective synthesis of organodiphosphites of the structure, (ORO)P(OZO)P(ORO), wherein R and Z are different substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups. The term "aryl group" denotes an organic radical which is derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon. The process involves sequentially treating PCl₃ with about one molar equivalent of HO--R--OH, adding an organic base, and then adding HO--Z--OH. This reaction results in the generation of HCl. A critical feature of the process is that all reactions are carried out below 10° C. and in a solvent in which the organodiphosphite product is soluble, but the byproduct salt formed by the reaction of the organic base and HCl is insoluble. The addition of base is necessary to drive the reaction between PCl₃ and HO--R--OH to completion. The byproduct salt of the organic base is then removed from the product mixture by aqueous extraction. The organic solvent may be flash distilled to isolate a product mixture which typically contains the desired product with about 70% to 90% selectivity. Other phosphite byproducts make up the balance of the product mixture. The purity of the crude reaction product is often acceptable for further use. However, if greater purity is desired, the mixture may be subjected to standard purification methods such as fractional distillation or crystallization methods, as appropriate.

The preferred product of the present process is an organodiphosphite of the formula (ORO)P(OZO)P(ORO), wherein each (ORO)P group is of the formula ##STR3## where R²⁶ to R³³ are the same or different and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy.

Preferably, Z is selected from radicals defined by the formulae I to IV: ##STR4## where:

R² and R⁹ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;

R³ and R⁸ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;

R⁴ and R⁷ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₂ alkoxy;

R⁵ and R⁶ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; or ##STR5## where:

X is O, S, or CH(R¹⁸);

R¹⁰ and R¹⁷ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;

R¹¹ and R¹⁶ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;

R¹² and R¹⁵ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;

R¹³ and R¹⁴ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; and

R¹⁸ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or ##STR6## where:

R¹⁹ and R²⁰ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy, and CO₂ R²¹ ;

R²¹ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with C₁ to C₆ alkyl; or ##STR7## where:

A is O, S, CH(R²⁴);

R²² and R²³ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy, and CO₂ R²⁵ ;

R²⁴ is H or C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl;

R²⁵ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with C₁ to C₆ alkyl.

Examples of organodiphosphites (Ligands) which can be made by this process include those having the formulae V to X. These organodiphosphites are useful as hydrocyanation catalyst ligands. ##STR8##

The order of addition of reagents is important to obtaining high selectivity. Adding reagents in an order other than that described will result in lower selectivity to the desired product.

The control of temperature, especially during the first part of the reaction in which the intermediate (ORO)PCl is generated, is critical to the success of this process. Acceptable selectivities may be obtained at temperatures as high as 10° C. However, higher selectivities are obtained at lower temperatures, though little improvement in selectivity is observed below -30° C. Practical considerations, such as the temperature of the available heat exchange medium, such as brine solution, usually dictates the lower practical temperature at which the process may be operated. Because of these considerations, the most preferred operating temperature is in the range of about -10° C. to about 0° C.

The base used in the process of this invention should be anhydrous and soluble in the reaction medium, but the salt of which, generated as a byproduct of its reaction with HCl, should be substantially insoluble. The insolubility of the salt of the base is important for preventing dissociation of the salt to produce small amounts of acid which may catalyze the rearrangement of intermediates and products. It is for this reason that excess base should be utilized. Suitable bases for this process are organic amines. Especially preferred are trialkylamines. The most preferred bases are selected from the group consisting of tributylamine, benzyldimethylamine, triethylamine, and diisopropylmethylamine. It is important to maintain temperature in the -30° C. to 10° C. range during the base addition. The rate of addition of base may be adjusted to maintain temperature in the desired range. It is important that at least two equivalents (per equivalent of PCl₃) of base be added in step (b) of the present process to neutralize all of the HCl which is produced from step (a). It is preferred to add at least three equivalents of base in step (b) in order to have sufficient unreacted base in step (c) to neutralize any HCl produced in step (c). Alternatively, less than three equivalents of base may be added in step (b), provided an additional quantity of base is added in step (c) to bring the total number of equivalents of base in the process as a whole to at least three. Because the addition of base results in the formation of an insoluble salt formed by neutralizing HCl, the reaction mixture can become a thick slurry. Such a slurry can create problems in achieving good mixing of base which is important in avoiding temperature gradients in the reaction mixture which can decrease yield of the desired product. It is important, therefore, that the reaction be conducted with vigorous stirring or other agitation to allow effective removal of heat from the reaction mixture. Cooling to the required temperature range can be accomplished by well-known techniques in the art.

The solvents of this process are selected on the basis of their nonreactivity with any reagents or products, their ability to solubilize both reagents and products, their ability to render byproduct salts of the base substantially insoluble, and their having a freezing point below the desired reaction temperature. Additionally, the solvent should be nonreactive with HCl that is generated during the process. Solvents meeting these criteria include both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic nitrile compounds. Preferred solvents are selected from the group consisting of ethers, hexanes, heptanes, octanes, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylenes, acetonitrile, propionitrile, valeronitrile, pentanenitrile and mixtures thereof.

It is important to carry out the present process in the absence of water. It is preferred, therefore, that reagents be dried prior to use and that the reaction itself be carried out under anhydrous conditions. It is also preferred to carry out the present process in the absence of oxygen. Conveniently, the present process may be carried out under a dry, inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthesis of Ligand V

This example shows that Ligand V can be produced by the current process.

A 500 mL round bottom flask was charged with 375 mL of toluene, 25 mL of tetrahydrofuran, THF, and bis(2-hydroxy-3,6-dimethylphenyl)methane (13.990 g, 0.055 mol). The flask was placed in a -30° C. freezer for 20 minutes. The flask was removed from the freezer, and phosphorous trichloride (7.495 g, 0.055 mol) was added. Triethylamine (5.72 g, 0.056 mol), which was dissolved in 20 mL of toluene, was also placed in a -30° C. freezer for 20 minutes and then added dropwise to the flask over a 35 minute period, forming a light tan slurry. The flask was cooled in a -30° C. freezer for an additional 30 minutes, and then additional triethylamine (5.72 g, 0.056 mol) was added over a 30 minute period. The reaction mixture was stored in a -30° C. freezer overnight. The flask was removed from the freezer. A mixture of triethylamine (7.22 g, 0.071 mol) and 2,2'-biphenol was dissolved in 25 mL of THF and added to the reaction mixture over a 35 minute period. The reaction mixture, containing a tan slurry, was allowed to stir for an additional 4 hours at room temperature. The mixture was filtered through celite, which was washed with toluene in a drybox. The volatiles were removed from the liquid mixture under reduced pressure. This procedure left 16.54 g of a pale yellow solid. Ligand V was identified by ³¹ P nmr.

Example 2 Synthesis of Ligand VIII

This example shows that Ligand VIII can be produced by the current process.

A 2 liter round bottom flask with a mechanical stirrer and an addition funnel were charged with 800 mL of toluene and 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,3'6,6'-tetramethyldiphenylmethane (15.380 g, 0.060 mol) under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was cooled in a -30° C. acetone/dry ice bath. Phosphorous trichloride (8.240 g, 0.060 mol) was added. Then, a solution of 12.5 g of triethylamine (12.5 g, 0.124 mol) in 200 mL of toluene was added over a 60 minute period. The reaction mixture was stirred for an additional 2 hours. A mixture of 3,3'-dimethyoxy-5,5'dimethylbiphenyl-2,2'-diol (8.229 g, 0.030 mol) and triethylamine (9.1 g, 0.0900 mol) in 170 mL of toluene was slowly added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred overnight in a dry box. Solids were removed by filtration through celite. The product (27.227 g) was recovered as a yellow solid when volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. Ligand VIII was identified by ³¹ P nmr.

Example 3 Synthesis of Ligand IX

This example shows that Ligand IX can be produced by the current process.

A dry 2 liter, 3-neck flask was charged with 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,3'-diisopropyl-6,6'-dimethyldiphenylmethane (16.200 g, 0.0518 mol) and phosphorous trichloride (7.120 g, 0.0518 mol) and cooled in a -10° C. ice bath. Triethylamine (11.54 g, 0.114 mol) was dissolved in 250 mL of toluene and then added to the flask over a two hour period while maintaining the temperature at -10° C. to +10° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for an additional 1.5 hours. 1,1'-Bi-2-naphthol (7.423 g, 0.0259 mol) was added to the solution, and then triethylamine (8.0 g, 0.079 mol) in 50 mL toluene was added dropwise and stirred for about 2 hours. Solids were removed by filtration through celite. The volatiles were removed from the remaining liquid by vacuum distillation. The product was a pale yellow solid (24.850 g) and was identified as Ligand IX by ³¹ P nmr. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the preparation of organodiphosphites of the general formula (ORO)P(OZO)P(ORO) wherein R and Z are different substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups, which comprises:(a) treating at a temperature between about -30° C. and 10° C. one molar equivalent of PCl₃ with about one molar equivalent of HO--R--OH; (b) treating the solution of step (a) at between about -30° C. and 10° C. with at least two equivalents of an organic base to produce (ORO)PCl and a substantially insoluble salt formed from the organic base and HCl which is formed by the reaction of HO--R--OH and PCl₃ ; and (c) reacting at a temperature of between about -30° C. and 10° C. the (ORO)PCl with about one half molar equivalent of HO--Z--OH, provided if less than three equivalents of the organic base are utilized in step (b), then a sufficient quantity of additional organic base is added to bring the total equivalents of organic base utlized in the process to at least three.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the organodiphosphite is of the formula (ORO)P(OZO)P(ORO) wherein:ORO is a radical of the formula ##STR9## wherein: R²⁶ to R³³ are the same or different and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; and Z is selected from radicals defined by the formulae I to IV: ##STR10## wherein: R² and R⁹ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R³ and R⁸ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R⁴ and R⁷ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R⁵ and R⁶ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; or ##STR11## wherein: X is O, S, or CH(R¹⁸); R¹⁰ and R¹⁷ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R¹¹ and R¹⁶ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R¹² and R¹⁵ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R¹³ and R¹⁴ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; and R¹⁸ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or ##STR12## wherein: R¹⁹ and R²⁰ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy, and CO₂ R²¹, R²¹ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with C₁ to C₆ alkyl; or ##STR13## wherein: A is O, S, CH(R²⁴); R²² and R²³ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy, and CO₂ R²⁵ ; R²⁴ is H or C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; R²⁵ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with C₁ to C₆ alkyl.
 3. The process of claim 2 wherein step (a) is performed at a temperature of between -10° C. and about 0° C.
 4. The process of claim 3 wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed at a temperature of between -10° C. and about 0° C.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein Z is a radical of the formula ##STR14## wherein: R² and R⁹ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;R³ and R⁸ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R⁴ and R⁷ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R⁵ and R⁶ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; or a radical of the formula ##STR15## wherein: R¹⁹ and R²⁰ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy, and CO₂ R²¹ ; and R²¹ is C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl; or phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with C₁ to C₆ alkyl.
 6. The process of claim 5 wherein Z is a radical of the formula ##STR16## wherein: R² and R⁹ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy;R³ and R⁸ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R⁴ and R⁷ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy; R⁵ and R⁶ are the same and are selected from H, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl, and C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy.
 7. The process of claim 6 wherein R²⁶ and R³³ are methyl or isopropyl; R²⁹ and R³⁰ are H or methyl; and R²⁷, R²⁸, R₃₁ and R³² are H. 